Passengers riding in these vehicles are not covered by insurance

            The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has charged four drivers for providing illegal chauffeured services using unlicensed vehicles. The drivers have each been convicted of using a vehicle as an unlicensed public service vehicle, and driving a vehicle without valid insurance. Three of the four vehicles used, which were all foreign-registered vehicles, were also forfeited^[1]. Please refer to Annex A for details. Under the Road Traffic Act, all vehicles, including foreign-registered ones, are not allowed to provide taxi or chauffeured services in Singapore without a valid Public Service Vehicle Licence (PSVL). Any person caught using a vehicle that is not issued with a valid PSVL to provide taxi or chauffeured services shall be prosecuted. Upon conviction, the offender faces a fine of up to $3,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both. The vehicle used may also be forfeited.

Increased Enforcement

2          LTA has stepped up enforcement and separately caught 13 drivers in 2018 who were using unlicensed foreign-registered vehicles to provide chauffeured services. One of these cases has concluded, while investigations into the 12 other cases are still ongoing. Enforcement operations were conducted at visitor hot spots such as Changi Airport, HarbourFront Centre and East Coast Seafood Centre. LTA enforcement officers also regularly conduct deterrence operations at these locations by showing uniformed presence. Please refer to Annex B for photographs of past enforcement operations.

3          LTA strongly urges the public against engaging chauffeured services provided by persons using unlicensed vehicles. As these vehicles might not be sufficiently insured against third party liabilities, these passengers may not be entitled to insurance recourse if they are involved in a traffic accident while travelling in such vehicles.

4          Mr Chandrasekar Palanisamy, Group Director (Traffic & Road Operations) at LTA, said, “Our enforcement officers have cracked down on these unlicensed public service vehicles to protect our commuters and our drivers. We work closely with various agencies to obtain the information and investigate these incidents. LTA views these infringements seriously, and we are committed to taking severe action against offenders.”